Major General Aziz Ahmed, BGBM, PBGM, psc, G, Director General (DG), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) led a 22 Member Bangladesh delegation to India to jointly chair the 43rd Border Co-ordination Conference between the Border Security Force(BSF) and Border Guard Bangladseh (BGB) from 30th Sept 2016 to 5th Oct 2016. The 25 member Indian delegation was led by Shri K K Sharma, IPS, DG BSF. The two delegations comprised senior officials of Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Department of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), National Investigation Agency (NIA), Joint River Commission (JRC), Survey of India and the senior officers of BSF and BGB.

2. The highest leadership of the two countries has laid the foundation of lasting and mutually beneficial relationship. To carry this agenda forward, following decisions were taken by both the DGs after detailed discussion on the agenda from both sides:-

(a) Reiterating the need for effective implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) for better border management so as to prevent cross border criminal activities, incidents of violence and tragic loss of lives and the number of deaths at the border and to ensure that such incidents are brought down to minimum. Both sides agreed to take measures like mounting additional vigilance in areas vulnerable in curbing the menace of Trans-border crimes like smuggling of drugs/ narcotics, cattle smuggling, Gold smuggling, Fake Currency Notes. Increasing Coordinated Patrols especially in night to vulnerable areas, deployment of Quick Reactions teams (QRTs) and educating border population about sanctity of the International Border etc will be some of these measures adopted.
(b) Appreciating the cooperation extended by BGB for taking action against the Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) based in Bangladesh, DG BSF further sought continued cooperation from BGB for taking action against IIGs and safe release of Indian nationals abducted by IIGs. DG BGB specially stated that “Bangladesh does not allow its soil to be used by any entity or element hostile to any country”.

(c) Both sides agreed to take effective steps for prevention of human trafficking and illegal trans-border movement.

(d) Both the sides appreciated the efforts made so far to improve our relations through various already agreed upon Confidence Building Measures (CBMs). After detailed discussion, following CBMs were agreed upon:

(i) A special course for BGB departmental officers with BSF Officers would be planned and organized by BSF.
(ii) A commando course for BGB personnel would be organized by BSF.
(iii) It was also agreed that all CBMs agreed upon in earlier meetings shall continue.

Both the sides agreed for expeditious implementation of the decisions taken in the conference. It was decided that next DG-level conference would be held in Dhaka in the last week of February 2017.